I remember my first Christmas party with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. “Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but
never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobbie Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.

Bobbie Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobbie Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobbie Decker a coat.

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

"Yes," I replied shyly. "It's ... for Bobbie." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas. That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and write, "To Bobbie, From Santa Claus" on it -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobbie Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobbie.

Forty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

Shoppers spent more than $15.5 billion this Christmas on gifts on the Internet alone. Just imagine how many millions went to unwanted polka dot sweaters, electric nose hair clippers, and thigh masters. That wasted cash piled up under the Christmas tree. We’ve all had it happen to us. In fact, you had it happen to you this year. You unwrapped the pretty red bow and tore through the shiny paper on that present from your Uncle Mortie, and immediately, you had
to put on your best poker face.

“How did you know I needed a sushi roller kit?” you exclaimed with as much excitement as you could muster through gritted teeth.

The problem is you don’t eat fish sticks, let alone raw salmon.

You can’t be too sore at poor Uncle Mortie, though, and the other friends and family who gave you unwanted holiday gifts this season. Buying Christmas gifts is difficult work. Then again, getting rid of a doosie of a Christmas gift is no piece of fruitcake either. That is, unless you know how to use the Internet to return your unwanted gifts from the comfort of your own home or, better yet, sell them for better use.

You’re probably wondering how it’s possible to sell off Santa’s slip-ups when you feel bad enough returning them. In most cases, your friends or loved one invested time and money into shopping for your gift. They browsed countless Web pages. They trudged through the mall. And they were sentenced to hard time in the cashier line. All of it they
did to please you.

At the same time, however, your friends or loved one couldn’t read your mind as Jolly Old Saint Nick supposedly can. They could never tell if you’d appreciate that coffee
table book on coffee tables, or that matching set of plaid socks and necktie. They could only guess at your inseam or your blouse size, or whether you look best in blue or black. And they had no way of telling that your third cousin on your father’s side got you the same exact gift. With no list of who was naughty and who was nice, Uncle Mortie
and company added to the millions wasted worldwide.

This waste doesn’t have to be. Your loved ones only wanted to make you happy with their presents. So it stands to reason that if their gift didn’t do the trick—because it was the wrong size, a duplicate present, or completely off the mark—they would want you to fix the situation. Whatever it takes, they would want you to be happy, right?

That leaves you with two options. You could return the gift to the mega store or the maul—er, mall. You would join the thousands of your neighbors with the same idea, all of whom are cramming into your local stores and cash register lines to return their unwanted gifts. Then you would also have to face the thousands of bargain shoppers out there looking for those post-Christmas specials, a rush that lasts well
through January.

What’s worse, some stores won’t let you return goods if you don’t have the original credit card or receipt. That means you could at best be left with gift cards with expiration
dates at stores that you may not like. At worst, you could be stuck with your gift, not knowing what to do with it.

Now you’re seeing the light. No, it's not the light from the inflatable 12-foot Santa Claus and reindeer on your neighbor’s front lawn. It’s the light from your computer monitor: the Internet. Today’s Web can link you with
someone who will think Uncle Mortie’s gift is a precious treasure. This person, whether they’re in Peoria or Pawtucket, North Carolina or the North Pole, is willing to pay good money for it.

Classified Internet sites can link you to this person faster than it would take you to stow the sushi set up in your attic. The best classified sites out there will also be free of transaction and membership fees. What’s
more, they allow you to negotiate price directly with your buyer and plan shipping arrangements, all with privacy and precision in mind.

You’ll end up with cash to buy that special something you really wanted. Your buyer will be pleased with Uncle Mortie’s gift. Uncle Mortie, well, he’ll be glad the gift he gave you, doesn’t just sit in the attic.

Everyone enjoys the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and decorating. Children love to write letters to Santa and get a reply with an envelope stamped "North Pole". But even more fascinating is the origins of many of our beloved Christmas traditions.

Exchanging Gifts: In ancient times holiday meals were shared with family, friends, and the poor. It was believed that in order to have a prosperous year, one must not be selfish for to hoard what they already had would guarantee that they would never be blessed with more. This is why we exchange gifts today.
Tree decorating: In olden times trees represented life triumphant over death. The Romans trimmed trees with trinkets, candles, and toys. The Druids tied polished apples and other offerings on tree branches. In Munich, even trees in cemeteries were decked with holly and
mistletoe. Therefore, the evergreen tree, which decorates our homes today, has come to signify the ever living Christ.

Yule Logs: The ancient Druids and other cultures believed that the sparks from a burning log carried their wishes for a prosperous New Year to the gods. Today, fireplaces with
burning logs recapture this ancient custom with the belief that the firelight is symbolic of the light that came from Heaven when Christ was born.

Candles: In England, large candles were burned in conjunction with the yule log. In America today, the candles represent the Star of Bethlehem.

Holly: The Druids believed that holly was favored by the sun because it was always green. Today holly represents the ever living Christ. The white flowers, purity; the red berries, his blood; the leaves, his crown of thorns, and the bitter bark, his sorrow.

Mistletoe: Comes from a Norse legend. Freyja, a goddess, had arranged for her son to be protected from all earthly dangers. When he was shot with an arrow made from mistletoe, Freyja made mistletoe promise never to harm anyone ever again. So today, mistletoe is a symbol of peace and love. It's winter blossoms bring promise of bounty for the coming spring.

Caroling: In Scandinavian custom, every Christmas, a party was given to the god Thor,
represented by a goat. After much singing and dancing the goat would pretend to die and
return to life. Today, carolers go from door to door singing and this represents the life of Christ.

Santa Claus: Santa actually started out as a version of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. Sailors feared him because he could bring terrible storms or grant them safe journeys.
Because he could save them from angry waters, he became known as "giver of all good things". Due to the rise of Christianity, the old custom was changed to honor Nicholas of Myra, an Asian bishop. Nicholas wore red clothing, rode a white horse who could fly, and delivered gifts
anonymously. Today, he is Santa with his flying reindeer!

For more information on getting a letter from Santa for a child close to you visit:

http://www.apluswriting.net/christmas/santamail.htm

Santa Claus actually started out as a version of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, known as Neptune by the Romans. Early Greek sailors feared him. He could bring terrible storms in
the sea, or grant them safe journeys. Because he could save them from the angry waters, he because known as "giver of all good things". The Romans and Greeks held a festival on
December 6 in his honor.
Many countries still celebrate Christmas on December 6 but due to the rise of Christianity, the day was changed to St. Nicholas Day in honor of an Asian bishop. Nicholas of Myra was a benevolent bishop who wore red clothing, rode a white horse who could fly, and delivered gifts anonymously.
In America, we celebrate with Santa and his flying reindeer. But many countries still celebrate with their own unique version of Santa.

In Sicily, it is the spirits of departed loved ones who bring gifts to children. Italian children wait for a kindly old witch named Befana who flies through the air on a broom.

A Russian counterpart is known as Baboushka. Also called Grandfather Frost in some parts of the country. In Holland "Sintirklass" arrives by boat on December 6th. Children leave a wooden shoe filled with hay and carrots for the donkey which carries the pack of toys.

In Sweden a gnome called "Juletomten" brings gifts in a sleigh driven by goats. In Germany and Switzerland the "Christkindl", or Christ Child, brings the gifts. In some towns, Christkindl is an
angel who comes down from heaven to give gifts. In Australia Santa rides water skis, has a white beard, and red bathing suit.

In China, Christmas Old Man, brings gifts to children. In England, Father Christmas wears a longer coat and has a longer beard. In France he's known as Pere Noel. All of Latin America and Spain are predominantly Catholic so Baby Jesus, el Niño Jesus, brings the gifts.

In Puerto Rico, children receive gifts from the Three Kings on January 6th, also called Epiphany. Every child puts grass under their bed for the camels. In the morning the grass is replaced with gifts. But since Puerto Rico is part of the United States, major gift giving is done on December
25 from Santa Claus. In Morocco he is known as Black Peter.

In Japan, Santa Claus is called just "Santa" and many children still call him "Santa no ojisan," which means "Uncle Santa." No matter what name a child calls Santa, it's a thrill to
write to, and get an answer from the North Pole.

For more information on how to write to Santa Claus:

http://www.apluswriting.net/christmas/santamail.htm